Absolute CD4 and CD8 counts and CD4-to-CD8 ratios in eight patients with indolent B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: There are some patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia who exhibit an extraordinary natural resistance to this malignancy, which lasts for many years. In this study, we report the T-cell subset values and ratios in eight such patients.

Methods: Impath (New York, NY) evaluated immunophenotyping by performing flow cytometry.

Spontaneous remission of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with T lymphocytic hyperplasia in bone marrow.

Spontaneous remissions in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) are rare and none of them has been studied with immunophenotyping (by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry) and genotyping. In this patient, studied after spontaneous remission had occurred, there was a residual T-lymphocytic hyperplasia in the bone marrow with a normal CD4:CD8 ratio. Absolute CD4 and CD8 counts and CD4:CD8 ratio in the peripheral blood were normal.